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04–07 November Like and follow us on timberandforestryenews.com ISSUE 593 | January 30, 2020 PM drops in to Download the latest thank volunteers Bulletin. COVER STORY P6 FIRST FOR FORESTRY CONSULTING www.margulesgroome.com For all your Timber Preservation needs. Ph: 07 3293 2651 | 24hrs: 0417 749 481 www.azelis.com design and build www.woodsolutions.com.au The NATIONAL voice for Timber Merchants • Suppliers • Manufacturers Contact us on 1800 TABMA1 2020 BUSHFIRE CRISIS Berejiklian gets cracking on inquiry into NSW bushfires and fuel loads WITH scant reference to the summer bushfires and prevention measures in Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, the industry – in NSW at least – is encouraged by an independent inquiry stamped urgent by Gladys Berejiklian. Announcing the inquiry this week the NSW Premier has appointed former NSW Police deputy commissioner Dave Owens and NSW chief scientist Mary O’Kane to head the six-month inquiry. The inquiry will start within Feedback on bushfires… NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is briefed by Hawkesbury Fire Control Centre's Karen days, focusing on the impact Hodges and Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers. of fuel loads, the role of to this summer's bushfires The inquiry was to the frequency, intensity, hazard reduction, drought and announced a day after timing and location of climate change. which have killed 25 people in NSW. the Morrison government bushfires in NSW in the 2019- The inquiry, which will flagged a strengthening 20 bushfire season." not hold public hearings but Ms Berejiklian said recovery of constitutional and legal will accept submissions, efforts were ongoing and This will include the powers to allow prime will review the causes, remained the government's consideration of the role ministers to declare national preparation and response focus. weather, drought, climate disasters and call in the change, fuel loads and human “Unfortunately the fire defence force during a crisis A FOCUS ON activity played in the wide- season is not over,” she said. rather than waiting for the sweeping bushfires. THE ROLE OF “While we are focused on states to ask for help. Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith HAZARD the rebuilding process we The NSW inquiry's terms said: "My view is that the only REDUCTION are mindful of the remaining of reference include "causes fire threats.” of, and factors contributing Cont P 3 MicroPro® THE CHOICE IS YOURS. Following the awarding of a Global GreenRate Level A certification, MicroPro Wood Treatment Technology has recently been awarded a GoldHEALTH rating with its recently published Global GreenTag Level A Product Health Declaration™ (PhD™). The GreenTag PhD is the first health transparency tool in the world to assess human health concerns directly, rating the health impacts of a final product – and not just the hazards of a product’s ingredients. For more information call us now on 1800 088 809. MicroPro® is a registered trademark of Koppers Inc. or its subsidiaries. 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Global GreenRate, GoldHEALTH, Global GreenTag and GreenTag PhD are regsitered trademarks operated under licence by Global GreenTag Pty Ltd. 2 TIMBER & FORESTRY E-NEWS | ISSUE 593 | January 30 , 2020 Authorities burn a forest fire solution 2020 BUSHFIRE CRISIS From P 2 seam gas related activities, focusing on human health thing we can control is fuel and environmental impacts. on the ground and that is why I am pushing for larger asset Dave Owens was protection zones around appointed state emergency villages and towns." operations controller by the NSW Governor in 2011, The inquiry will also making him the longest investigate the preparation serving appointee since the and planning by agencies, the government and the position was introduced in community as well as 1989. responses, including public This appointment, under Dave Owens… experience in state Mary O’Kane… human health and the State Emergency and warnings, resourcing, emergency operations. environmental impacts. coordination and deployment. Rescue Management Act Land use planning and Ms Berejiklian said joint She established her own 1989, gives oversight to the management and building heads of the inquiry Professor consulting practice that management of emergencies standards, including Mary O’Kane, who is the has completed work for and disasters that occur appropriate clearing and other chair of the Independent government and private within New South Wales. hazard reduction, zoning Planning Commission, and sector clients. The company Mr Owens oversaw and the use of indigenous Dave Mr Owens had "an completed reviews of the response operations and practices will also be extraordinary breadth and Cooperative Research supporting arrangements considered. depth of experience". Centres and the Bureau of to a number of significant The issue of controlled "I am confident their inquiry Meteorology. emergencies, both within burning has also split the will be comprehensive and She was appointed the NSW and abroad, including NSW Coalition, with Deputy robust,” Ms Berejiklian said. first NSW chief scientist and state resources to the Premier and Leader of “NSW is incredibly engineer in 2008 by then Victorian Black Saturday the Naionals John Barilaro proud of the efforts of all Premier Nathan Rees. Her bushfires in 2009 and the accusing government our emergency services work included conducting an Christchurch earthquake in agencies of being personnel and volunteers independent review of coal 2 011. "ideologically opposed" to throughout this ongoing hazard reduction. bushfire season, but the But this was countered scale of these fires has been by Energy and Environment unprecedented and we must The united voice Minister Matthew Kean leave no stone unturned." who conceded more hazard reduction might be needed Mr Owens and Professor for Australia's but warned it was "not a O'Kane will report back to Ms silver bullet". Berejiklian after their inquiry has concluded. forest industries THE ONLY A Queenslander, Professor THING WE CAN O’Kane is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological CONTROL IS Sciences and Engineering FUEL ON THE and of the Royal Society of GROUND NSW and an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia. Trump-eting 1 trillion trees plan PRESIDENT Trump says the Trump spoke about US will join a one trillion the importance of better trees initiative launched at managing trees and forests. the World Economic Forum “We will continue to in Switzerland. show strong leadership The initiative encourages in restoring, growing, and (02) 6285 3833 countries to collectively plant better managing our trees [email protected] the trees to absorb carbon and our forests,” he said. www.ausfpa.com.au dioxide. TIMBER & FORESTRY E-NEWS | ISSUE 593 | January 30, 2020 3 Inspiring journey, puzzles to solve 2020 BUSHFIRE CRISIS They’re back and at the worst possible time as volunteers put lives on the line AS volunteer harvest landscapes and the built contractors in Victoria environment. continue to fight bushfires Other initiatives include and clear roads, green developing a best practice antagonists have ramped up guide for log salvage and their attack on the industry. storage for softwood logs; “This emotional diatribe scoping a study for in-mill comes at a time when utilisation of fire-impacted contractors are on the front softwood logs; promoting line and their families are the use of timber in bushfire worried about the safety prone communities; and of their loved ones,” says supporting the technical work a bulletin from Friends of for any potential review of Forestry. the Australian Standard for Building in Bushfire Prone “Yet those far away from Areas (AS 3959). the fires are still laying the Victorian Association of boot in to our industry.” Volunteers … Forest Industries CEO Tim At Warburton in the Yarra a picture tells it all. Johnston said although Ranges east of Melbourne, the bushfires had burnt the local greens are “This is simply disgusting; against these protestors,” significant areas, forests organising protests against governments must be Friends of Forestry said. were not totally destroyed. the industry. pressured to act quickly “Contractors who have been through so much in the past “In fact, a vast majority of few months don’t deserve our forests are still alive and illegal workplace invasions. will re-shoot, as eucalypts are resilient and adapt to fire,” Mr “And it should also be Johnston said. noted that there are calls TABMA Training ... for those who have fought providing innovative training solutions fires to receive medals GOVERNMENT for their work. Let’s hope MUST ACT QUICKLY forest contractors are not TABMA Training (previously FITEC - RTO 5343) off ers a ON PROTESTORS full range of nationally recognised forest and timber industry forgotten.” qualifi cations ranging from forest operations, sawmilling, Friends of Forestry has “Salvage harvesting and frame and truss design and manufacture, recognised the work of the the recovery of burnt trees to timber merchandising, and business sales. Australian Forest Products is a legitimate and well- Association and Forest and PLUS our dynamic short courses are designed to achieve recognised aspect of the bo om line results for your business! Wood Products Australia in the bushfire crisis. fire recovery process; it is Short courses include forkli training, chainsaw training, a crucial element in helping AFPA had taken a political how to deal with customers in person and on the telephone, state forests recover from role involving the federal performance management, timber knowledge, bushfire. timber take off s, and visual stress grading. government such as the round table raising industry “It also allows local These short courses can be conducted at your premises issues in relation to the fires communities to generate (5+) or in a group at our facilities. and the importance of well- low-carbon timber products managed forests. from burnt trees that would Contact us now for FWPA had focused efforts otherwise deteriorate.” further information.